On 13 September 2010, Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya gave opening remarks to the “ASEM (Asia-Europe Meeting) 8 Student Summit” co-hosted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Embassy of Belgium in Thailand and Delegation of the European Union in Thailand, at the Foreign Ministry.
Foreign Minister Kasit stated that the “ASEM 8 Student Summit” is a simulated activity to promote the ASEM 8 Summit to be held during 4-5 October 2010 in Brussels. The Thai Prime Minister is scheduled to attend the said Summit which would be held under the theme “Quality of Life: Achieving Greater Well-being and More Dignity for all Citizens” and a major issue to be discussed is sustainable development. This activity also provided an opportunity to the Thai university students, who passed the selection process, to perform as representatives of the ASEM member countries or the participated international organization. The students have competed their skills as well as presented ideas and opinions in English in various topics of discussion.
The Thai Foreign Minister also stated that ASEM is the only international meeting, where leaders from 45 countries in Europe and Asia discuss and exchange views on both regional and international issues of mutual interest and concern. The ASEM Summit is scheduled to be held every two years and hosted alternately by the member countries from Asia and Europe. Thailand hosted the first ASEM Summit in Bangkok in 1996. The ASEM 8 Summit will welcome three new member countries, namely Russia, Australia and New Zealand.
For further information, please contact the Press Division, Department of Information, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Tel.02-6435170, Fax.02-6435169, E-mail: div0704@mfa.go.th